“Today we scored in the first minutes of the first half and the second half so it was different.”

Palace, still in need of points to avoid being sucked back towards the drop zone, had their moments in the first half and it took a stunning save from Willy Caballero to keep out Christian Benteke's header.

But City were a class apart - and when they scored again three minutes after the break it was game over.

Silva returned Kevin De Bruyne's half-cleared corner to the Belgian and when he crossed low, a swing of Vincent Kompany's boot sent the ball flashing past Hennessey from 15 yards.

Sam Allardyce looks on (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Wilfried Zaha reacts (Image: PA)

De Bruyne's then skimmed the bar with a dipping free-kick – the ninth time this season the Belgian has struck the woodwork.

But he was bang on target on the hour when Silva's header and Gabriel Jesus' pass invited him to guide a low shot into the corner from 20 yards.

Sterling joined in the rout in the 82 minute with a lethal left-foot finish after Zabaleta had nodded down Yaya Toure's raking pass.

Otamendi completed the scoring in injury time when he met De Bruyne's free-kick with an unstoppable header.

Nicolas Otamendi scores (Image: REUTERS)

Raheem Sterling and Manchester City's Leroy Sane (Image: AFP)

Pep Guardiola applauds the fans (Image: AFP)

Allardyce said: “It was a bit of a capitulation in the end. City didn't even need to produce the skills that they normally do and yet we've still been thrashed.

“You can lose any game, but that was unacceptable. The players have to take responsibility and bounce back.

“We've got a big game against Hull next week and we've got to win. I don't want to rely on other people.”